Toothbrush provided with an articulated arm bearing a protective cap

ABSTRACT

A toothbrush having a head placed at a front longitudinal end of a handle made overall as a single piece. The head has flexible brushing elements on its upper surface. The toothbrush is equipped with an arm articulated at one end, and provided at the opposite free end with a protective cover for the brushing elements. The general thickness of the arm gradually increases from its articulation end to the cover so as to form a profile projecting from a longitudinal surface of the rear portion of the handle, by virtue of which the gripping surface of the handle is increased. The articulation of the arm on the handle is designed to allow it to describe at least two different rotations about two substantially orthogonal geometric axes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a toothbrush.

The invention relates more particularly to a toothbrush comprising ahead placed at a front longitudinal end of a handle made overall as asingle piece, of the type in which the head has flexible brushingelements on its upper surface, of the type which is equipped with an armarticulated at one end midway along the handle, and provided at theopposite free end with a protective cover for the brushing elements,such that the articulated arm can assume:

a forward protective position in which the arm is adjacent a frontportion of the handle and in which the cover covers the brushingelements;

and a rear gripping position in which the arm is adjacent a rear portionof the handle;

of the type in which the general thickness of the arm graduallyincreases from is articulation end to the cover so as to form a profileprojecting from a longitudinal surface of the rear portion of thehandle, when the arm is in the gripping position, by virtue of which thegripping surface of the handle is increased.

By way of definition, the “head” of a toothbrush will refer to theoverall distal end part, placed at the free end of the handle forgripping and manipulating the toothbrush and bearing the flexiblebrushing elements, such as bristles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many toothbrush models are already known that can be folded tofacilitate transport, sometimes called “travel toothbrushes”. The mainaim of this type of toothbrush is to be as compact as possible, in thefolded position, while allowing normal use of the toothbrush in theunfolded position. Generally, these toothbrushes also comprise means forprotecting the flexible brushing elements during transport in the foldedposition.

A toothbrush of this type is disclosed in document FR-A-2 615 372.

This toothbrush comprises a case made up of two folding parts and ahandle at whose free end is placed the brush head.

The handle is mounted so as to pivot at an articulation end of a firstpart of the case about a substantially vertical axis.

In the folded position, the handle and the first case part are alignedlongitudinally and the case surrounds part of the head while leaving anopening in a longitudinal side wall so as to allow the brush filamentsto pass out through the side of the case when the handle goes from thefolded to the unfolded position, and vice versa.

The toothbrush also comprises a second case part which is articulated,about a horizontal transverse axis, at the end of the first case partopposite to the vertical pivoting axis.

In the folded position, the second case part covers the first case partand closes off the opening, so that the case completely protects theflexible brushing elements in this position.

To unfold the toothbrush, into the use position, it is thereforenecessary to first of all pivot the second case part about itstransverse articulation axis to uncover the opening, and then the handleis pivoted one half-turn about its vertical axis, the brushing filamentspassing through the opening. Lastly, the second case part is pivotedinto its original position, so that it locks the handle in the brushingposition.

One advantage of this type of toothbrush lies in its gripping surface,which is relatively large, thus facilitating manipulation and improvingergonomics during brushing.

However, this type of toothbrush has several disadvantages.

This type of toothbrush is relatively difficult to produce since thebrush comprises at least three separate elements that require assembly.

The articulation of the two case parts is difficult to achieve andfragile. When the brush is used, the second case part may thus easilybecome detached from the first part, either as a result of breakage ofthe articulation means or of their coming apart, if these articulationmeans are achieved by elastic fitting-together. There is therefore therisk of losing the second case part or of no longer being able to useit.

However, in order to be able to use the toothbrush properly it isnecessary to have the two case parts since they serve both to ensurecomplete protection of the brushing filaments and to lock the handle inthe brushing position.

Consequently, loss of the second case part renders the toothbrushpractically unusable.

Furthermore, during brushing, the user holds the toothbrush by the case.The quality of the mounting of the articulated end of the handle in thecase therefore has a significant effect on the overall rigidity of thetoothbrush, and hence on the quality of the brushing.

In particular, the play that may arise at the join between the handleand the case may hinder use.

Another type of toothbrush has been proposed by document WO-A-90/12522.According to this document, the toothbrush has a handle made as a singlepiece with the head and provided, on its upper surface, with alongitudinal groove. A longitudinal pivoting arm is mounted so as topivot at one end about a horizontal transverse axis midway along thelongitudinal groove and has, at its opposite longitudinal end, aprotective cover.

When the pivoting arm is in a protective position, it lieslongitudinally inside a front portion of the groove and the cover coversthe brushing filaments of the brush head.

When the pivoting arm is in a brushing position, it lies longitudinallyinside a rear portion of the groove and the protective cover extendslongitudinally to the rear of the handle.

Unlike the toothbrush of the first document cited, the toothbrush of thesecond document is of more simple design since it comprises only twoparts. Furthermore, this toothbrush may be used without the articulatedarm since it does not form a gripping surface with the rest of thehandle.

However, the surface for gripping the toothbrush during brushing isrelatively small with respect to the toothbrush of the first document.This small gripping surface is disadvantageous, especially when the userwishes to perform a “rolling” brushing action.

According to this brushing technique, also called the Stillmantechnique, and to variations of this technique, the user imparts to thetoothbrush a movement in which the longitudinal axis of the head staysgenerally parallel to the dental arch and in which the head describesboth a rotation and a translation, so as to perform a brushing actionstarting at the gum and continuing as far as the tips of the teeth.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention aims to overcome these drawbacks by providing a noveltoothbrush design which is more simple and therefore more economical,and which has a gripping surface that is relatively large duringbrushing.

For this purpose, the invention provides a toothbrush comprising a headplaced at a front longitudinal end of a handle made overall as a singlepiece, of the type in which the head has flexible brushing elements onits upper surface, of the type which is equipped with an arm articulatedat one end midway along the handle, and provided at the opposite freeend with a protective cover for the brushing elements, such that thearticulated arm can assume:

a forward protective position in which the arm is adjacent a frontportion of the handle and in which the cover covers the brushingelements;

and a rear gripping position in which the arm is adjacent a rear portionof the handle;

of the type in which the general thickness of the arm graduallyincreases from its articulation end to the cover so as to form a profileprojecting from a longitudinal surface of the rear portion of thehandle, when the arm is in the gripping position, by virtue of which thegripping surface of the handle is increased, characterized in that thearticulation of the arm on the handle is designed to allow the arm todescribe at least two different rotations:

a first rotation about a first geometric axis, substantially orthogonalto the longitudinal plane defined by the upper surface of the head; and

a second rotation about a second geometric axis, substantiallyorthogonal to the first axis of rotation.

According to other features of the invention:

the arm is articulated on an upper portion of the handle via a ball-typeconnection;

the articulation end of the arm comprises a ball, and this ball isforce-fitted in a recess of complementary shape made in the upperportion of the handle;

the ball is integral, by molding as a single piece, with the arm and thecover;

the arm comprises means for locking via elastic fitting-together ofcomplementary shapes, so as to lock the arm at least in its protectiveposition;

the arm comprises two longitudinal wings which, when the arm is in theprotective position or the gripping position, extend vertically downwardon either side of the handle, and which each have, on their inside face,a boss designed to cooperate with a complementary relief on the sidesurface facing the handle, so as to lock the arm in the relevantposition;

the arm has a stop element which, when the arm is in the protectiveposition, extends toward an upper portion of the handle, so as toprevent the brushing elements from being crushed by the cover;

the flexible brushing elements consist of brushing filaments, orbristles, and the height of the filaments increases from eachlongitudinal side edge of the head toward a longitudinal mid-plane thatis substantially orthogonal to the upper surface of the head.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge on readingthe following detailed description in conjunction with the attacheddrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view diagrammatically showing a toothbrush comprising anarticulated arm produced in accordance with the teaching of theinvention and depicted in the protective position;

FIG. 2 is a side view in partial longitudinal section along thesectional plane 2-2 which diagrammatically shows the toothbrush of FIG.1, the articulated arm being in the same protective position;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 showing the toothbrush in afirst intermediate position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 showing the toothbrush in thesame position as that of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 showing the toothbrush as itpivots rearward about the geometric axis A2;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 showing the toothbrush withthe articulated arm in the gripping position;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 showing the toothbrush withthe articulated arm in the gripping position;

FIG. 8 is a view in cross section along the sectional plane 8-8 whichdiagrammatically shows how the longitudinal wings of the articulated armfit together with the handle of the toothbrush;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged partial view with cutaway of the articulation ofthe arm of the toothbrush as shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a toothbrush 10 produced in accordance with theteaching of the invention.

The toothbrush 10 comprises a gripping and manipulation handle 12 whichis generally oriented along a longitudinal axis X-X.

The remainder of the description will use, without implying anylimitation, a rearward orientation along the longitudinal axis X-X, thiscorresponding to a left-to-right orientation in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Use will also be made, without implying any limitation, of a verticalorientation, this corresponding to an upward orientation in FIG. 2.

Elements will be deemed to be transverse where they are generallycontained in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis X-X.

In one embodiment, the handle 12 is an integral part produced by moldingas a single piece.

At the front free end of the handle 12, the toothbrush 10 comprises abrushing head 14.

The head 14 substantially has the shape of a plate lying in alongitudinal plane P1, contained in the plane of FIG. 1, and delimitingtwo opposed surfaces, which are substantially mutually parallel, andwhich will be denoted as the upper surface 16 and the lower surface 18,with reference to the vertical orientation of FIG. 2.

The top and bottom of the toothbrush 10 are defined arbitrarilydepending on whether the toothbrush is viewed from the side of the uppersurface 16 or from the side of the lower surface 18 of the head 14,respectively.

In this case, the upper surface 16 is the surface of the head 14 thatbears flexible brushing elements 20.

The flexible brushing elements 20 are for example parallel filaments, orbristles, which extend perpendicularly to the plane of the upper surface16 of the head 14.

The filaments 20, for brushing the teeth, may be made for example of athermoplastic such as polyamide or polyethylene, but they may alsoconsist of natural bristles or other similar elements.

The toothbrush 10 in this case includes a plane of symmetry P2, which isvertical and which contains the longitudinal axis X-X.

The filaments 20 are cut for example in a “roof” shape, i.e. the heightof the filaments 20 increases from each longitudinal side edge of thehead 14 toward the plane of symmetry P2 of the brush 10.

In the remainder of the description, the longitudinal portions of thehandle 12 that are generally oriented upward and downward will be calledthe upper longitudinal surface 22 and the lower longitudinal surface 24,respectively.

A front portion 26 and a rear portion 28 of the handle 12 arerespectively defined.

The toothbrush 10 is equipped with an arm 30 one end of which isarticulated in a longitudinal region midway 32 along the upperlongitudinal surface 22 of the handle 12 and the free end of which, awayfrom the articulation 34, has a protective cover 36 for the brushingfilaments 20.

The articulated arm 30 may assume a forward protective position P_(av),shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in which it is adjacent the upper longitudinalsurface 22 of the front portion 26 of the handle 12 and in which thecover 36 covers the brushing filaments 20 so as to protect them from theexternal environment.

The articulated arm 30 may assume a rear gripping position P_(ar), shownin FIGS. 6 and 7, in which it is adjacent the upper longitudinal surface22 of the rear portion 28 of the handle 12.

Note that, in FIGS. 2, 4, 7 and 9, only the articulated arm 30 is shownin section.

The general thickness of the arm 30 gradually increases from itsarticulation 34 as far as the cover 36 such that, when the arm 30 is inthe gripping position P_(ar), it forms a profile projecting from theupper longitudinal surface 22 of the rear portion 28 of the handle 12,as can be seen in FIG. 7.

In this position (P_(ar)), the arm 30 increases the gripping surface ofthe handle 12, thus making it easier for the user to manipulate thetoothbrush 10, especially when performing a rolling brushing action.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the articulation 34of the arm 30 to the handle 12 is a ball-type articulation. A detailedview of this articulation 34 is shown in FIG. 9.

In this figure, in which the arm 30 is shown in the protective positionP_(av), it can be seen that the articulation end 34 of the arm 30comprises a ball 38 which in this case is integral with the arm 30. Theball 38 is force-fitted in a recess 40 of substantially complementaryshape made in the upper surface 22 midway 32 along the handle 12.

The recess 40 in this case has the shape of a blind hole having an uppersection 42 and a lower section 44, both frustoconical and ofsubstantially vertical axis.

The upper section 42 is very slightly frustoconical, such that itsdiameter narrows slightly toward the top as far as its upper axial end46, this end delimiting a circular rim whose diameter D1 is slightlysmaller than the maximum diameter D2 of the ball 38. Thus, the ball 38is retained inside the recess 40 once it has been force-fitted therein.

The lower section 44 in this case is frustoconical and its diameterdecreases in the downward direction.

Advantageously, the arm 30 also comprises means 48 for locking via theelastic fitting-together of complementary shapes, so that the user canlock the arm 30 in the protective position P_(av) and in the grippingposition P_(ar).

For this purpose, the arm 30 comprises two longitudinal wings 50, 52which, when the arm 30 is in the protective position P_(av) or thegripping position P_(ar), extend substantially vertically downward oneither side of the handle 12.

As can be seen in particular in FIG. 8, each longitudinal wing 50, 52has, on its inside face 54, 56, i.e. that facing the handle 12, a boss58, 60 designed to cooperate with a complementary relief 62, 64 borne bythe longitudinal side surface 66, 68 facing the handle 12, so as to lockthe arm 30 in the relevant position P_(av) or P_(ar).

The joining plane resulting from the molding of the toothbrush 10 isembodied in FIG. 8 by inverting the directions of the hatching betweenan upper portion and a lower portion of the handle 12.

It is the joining plane that in this case forms the relief 62, 64 on thelongitudinal side surfaces 66, 68 of the handle 12. The relief 62, 64 inthis case is in the form of a longitudinal boss.

The arm 30 preferably also has a stop element 70 which, when the arm 30is in the protective position P_(av), extends toward the upper surface22 of the front portion 26 of the handle 12, so as to prevent thebrushing elements from being crushed by the cover 36.

The stop element 70 is in this case formed by a rear transverse wall ofthe protective cover 36 which rests on the upper surface 22 of the frontportion 26 of the handle 12 when the arm 30 is in the protectiveposition P_(av).

The cover 36 is thus delimited by a front transverse wall 72, by twoside walls 74, 76 and by the rear transverse wall 70.

Advantageously, the side walls 74, 76 of the cover 36 extendlongitudinally toward the ball 38, along the arm 30, so as to form awide gripping surface when the arm 30 is in the gripping positionP_(ar).

In the embodiment represented here, the side walls 74, 76 extend towardthe articulation 34 until they form the longitudinal wings 50, 52.

Advantageously, the arm 30, the cover 36, the ball 38 and thelongitudinal wings 50, 52 are integral by molding as a single piece.

An explanation will now be given of how the toothbrush 10 according tothe invention may be used.

When it is desired to transport the toothbrush 10 or when the toothbrush10 is not in use, the arm 30 is placed in the protective positionP_(av), so that the protective cover 36 completely covers the brushingfilaments 20 and isolates them from the external environment.

The rear transverse wall 70 then rests on the upper surface 22 of thehandle 12, and the protective cover 36 is thus prevented from pivotingdownward and crushing the brushing filaments 20.

The longitudinal wings 50, 52 are fitted over the reliefs 62, 64, whichlocks the arm 30 in the protective position P_(av), preventing it fromaccidentally pivoting upward.

When the user wishes to use the toothbrush 10, he takes hold of thearticulated arm 30 and pivots it upward, by virtue of the articulation34, detaching the longitudinal wings 50, 52 from the handle 12, in afirst step about a first geometric axis A1, shown in FIGS. 3 and 4,which is substantially transverse and horizontal and which passesgenerally through the center of the ball 38.

In this first step, the arm 30 pivots into a first intermediate positionPi1, shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in which the arm 30 generally makes anupward angle of approximately 45° with respect to the longitudinal axisX-X.

The first intermediate position Pi1 generally corresponds to the firstposition, after pivoting about the first geometric axis A1, in which thelongitudinal wings 50, 52 have been brought clear of the handle 12, i.e.they have been raised above the upper longitudinal surface 22 of thehandle 12, as shown in FIG. 4.

Note that, in the first intermediate position Pi1, it is also necessaryfor the lid 36 to be brought clear of the filaments 20, upward, so thatthe filaments do not obstruct the pivoting of the arm 30 in the secondstep.

In the second step, starting from the first intermediate position Pi1,the user pivots the arm 30, counterclockwise (as shown in FIG. 5) orclockwise, one half-turn about a second geometric axis A2 which issubstantially vertical and which passes generally through the center ofthe ball 38.

At the end of this second step, the arm 30 is then in a secondintermediate position Pi2 (not shown) which is substantially symmetricalwith the first intermediate position Pi1 with respect to a transverseplane passing through the articulation 34. The arm 30 then lies in thelongitudinal alignment X-X of the handle 12, rearward from thearticulation 34.

All that is then required is to pivot the arm 30 downward about thefirst geometric axis A1, in a third step, so that the arm 30 assumes thegripping position P_(ar) as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

The user then has, in this gripping position P_(ar) of the arm 30, anextensive gripping surface, i.e. a larger surface than would be providedby the handle 12 alone, allowing him to perform more difficult brushingactions, such as a rolling brushing action, with comfort.

When the user has finished using the toothbrush 10, he places the arm 30in the protective position P_(av) once more, by repeating theabovementioned three steps in reverse order.

According to variant embodiments that have not been shown, the ball 38articulation 34 may be replaced by another kind of articulation allowingthe same pivoting movements of the arm 30, at least about the firstrotation axis A1 and about the second rotation axis A2.

The ball 38 can for example be replaced by a deformable element made ofnatural or synthetic plastic, linking the articulation end 34 of the arm30 to the handle 12.

Note that the geometric shapes of the toothbrush 10 are simple, thusfacilitating its production by molding according to known methods.

Furthermore, the toothbrush 10 according to the invention may be usedeven if the articulated arm 30 is dismantled or damaged.

1. A toothbrush (10) comprising a head (14) placed at a frontlongitudinal (X-X) end of a handle (12) made overall as a single piece,of the type in which the head (14) has flexible brushing elements (20)on its upper surface (16), of the type which is equipped with an arm(30) one end of which is articulated in a longitudinal region midway(32) along the handle (12), and provided at the opposite free end with aprotective cover (36) for the brushing elements (20), such that thearticulated arm (30) can assume: a forward protective position (P_(av))in which the arm (30) is adjacent a front portion (26) of the handle(12) and in which the cover (36) covers the brushing elements (20); anda rear gripping position (P_(ar)) in which the arm (30) is adjacent arear portion (28) of the handle (12); of the type in which the generalthickness of the arm (3) gradually increases from its articulation end(34) to the cover (36) so as to form a profile projecting from alongitudinal surface (22) of the rear portion (28) of the handle (12),when the arm (30) is in the gripping position (P_(ar)), by virtue ofwhich the gripping surface of the handle (12) is increased, and in whichthe articulation (34) of the arm (30) on the handle (12) is designed toallow the arm (30) to describe at least two different rotations: a firstrotation about a first geometric axis (A1), substantially orthogonal tothe longitudinal plane (P1) defined by the upper surface of the head(14); and a second rotation about a second geometric axis (A2),substantially orthogonal to the first axis of rotation (A1), and inwhich the arm (30) comprises means (48) for locking via elasticfitting-together of complementary shapes, so as to lock the arm (30) atleast in its protective position (P_(av)), and in which the arm (30)comprises two longitudinal wings (50, 52) which, when the arm (30) is inthe protective position (P_(av)) or the gripping position (P_(ar)),extend vertically downward on either side of the handle (12), and whicheach have, on their inside face (54, 56), a boss (58, 60) designed tocooperate with a complementary relief (62, 64) on the side surface (66,68) of the handle (12), as to lock the arm (30) in the relevant position(P_(av), P_(ar))
 2. The toothbrush (10) as claimed in claim 1characterized in that the arm (30) has a stop element (70) which, whenthe arm (30) is in the protective position (P_(av)), extends toward anupper portion (22) of the handle (12), so as to prevent the brushingelements (20) from being crushed by the cover (36).
 3. The toothbrush(10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the flexible brushingelements (20) consist of brushing filaments, or bristles.
 4. Thetoothbrush (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the arm(30) is articulated on an upper portion (22) of the handle (12) via aball-type connection (34).
 5. The toothbrush (10) as claimed in claim 4,characterized in that the articulation end (34) of the arm (30)comprises a ball (38), and in that the ball (38) is force-fitted in arecess (40) of complementary shape made in the upper portion (22) of thehandle (12).
 6. The toothbrush (10) as claimed in claim 5, characterizedin that the ball (38) is integral, by molding as a single piece, withthe arm (30) and the cover (36).